Blue whales a big-time summer attraction off Santa Barbara

It's a little-known secret that this is prime time for whale watching off Southern California, particularly in the Santa Barbara Channel, where only one boat makes daily offshore excursions in search of blue and humpback whales.

That's the Condor Express out of Sea Landing in Santa Barbara, and its passengers have been enjoying almost predictable encounters with both species of leviathans, plus dolphins, seals and sea lions.

The high-speed catamaran -- which generally runs from 10 a.m. -2:30 p.m. -- on Saturday will run a full-day trip hosted by the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society.

 It's an annual odyssey members and non-members look forward to each summer, because this is when the whales -- primarily blue whales -- are in the channel feeding on shrimp-like krill. Cost is $93 for members and $103 for non-members, and departure time is 8 a.m. For details call (310) 847-0516.

For those wondering about recent sightings, Condor Express passengers on Sunday saw four blue whales, which are the largest creatures on earth, as well as two humpback whales, 150 common dolphins and an elephant seal.

On Saturday the tally was three blue whales, three Dall's porpoise, 100 common dolphins and a giant mola mola, or sunfish.

Marine mammal enthusiasts might also be interested to know that Island Packers vessels ferrying hikers and campers to the Channel Islands will pause and inspect whales along the way.

Farther south, Harbor Cruises in Long Beach runs daily trips, and Dana Wharf Whale Watching and Capt. Dave's Dolphin Safari also venture offshore in search of migrating or feeding whales.

-- Pete Thomas

Photos of feeding blue whale (top) and friendly humpback whale by Pete Thomas